Not A Happy Walk

Tali made it obvious that she was coming for the walk. Wonderful news, but it didn't go to plan as she ended up on the lead to stop her eating sheep shit! 

She was not amused! 

Not Again Tali!

The old lady isn't well today. She had the most horrendous diarrhea yesterday evening and in the night. Thank you so much to Nico for waking me up to let her out! I so wish she would bark, she doesn't. She scratches at the door and it's not that easy to hear her from the bedroom. Anyway Nico heard her, sounded the alarm and I got her out in time.
What does concern me is that she is very flat this morning and had also been sick in the earlier part of the night. Normally with her IBS as soon as she's had the diarrhea she's as bright as a button again. I can only think with the build up to it that she has stomach cramps, and relief when it's cleared. But maybe this is different? I think if there is no improvement I'll take her to the vets tomorrow, actually I may take her anyway as I've used my emergency antibiotics now. I just hope this is something and nothing, really can't cope with much more now!

It's All Subject To Change Of course!

Last night was another sleepless night. It's so hard to tell your brain to stop thinking once it starts whizzing at 3am isn't it, but it's amazing what becomes clear at that time of night!

Ziva and Nico

If we accept that there will be no puppies this time then plans need making for the future. With the possibility of a litter from either bitch I had to think hard. It was a knee jerk reaction from me on Thursday to think, well I'll mate Ziva to Nico now then. Lets be honest their litter was absolutely super, they did produce Sammi; but now with time and thought I've decided to wait. I will take Sammi to see Jill Hubbard (vet) and talk about the herpes vaccinations (and maybe antibiotics) and take on board any thought that she or others with experience may have. We used the herpes vacs with Krizzie after she missed to Rangemore Arko, so that one may well be worth a go! If Sammi then goes on to have a successful litter as Krizzie did, then that's it, job done ... if not then at her following season I will repeat the mating of Nico to Ziva and hopefully keep a bitch from that litter. So between one of them we should have babies next Spring or Summer.
Ziva is now just 5 years old, so will be months short of 6 by then, well within the breeding age recommended by the KC of up to 8 years. She is currently fit, well and healthy, and of course will have to be at the time if that's the path we have to follow. I would never consider allowing a bitch to have a first litter at that age, but I have no qualms with a second litter at 5+ years.

Sammi and Ziva

What would happen with Sammi then? Well I don't know. You only have the option to go back to the stud dog once free of charge. Having stud dogs I totally understand you're paying for the service and not the result. The dog is doing "his job" it's not his fault when it doesn't work out. But she's young and there would always be the chance in the future, anyway, let's think more positively than that!
I've now informed all the potential puppy buyers that there will be no babies this year. Some may wait, others may look elsewhere and I can't blame them for that! And me? Well I think it's time I start re looking for a suitable sable pup to join us at Blanik.

Exploring With The Kids

Ian took us around one of his local walks

 Took loads of photos in the woodland and by the river, but they are all black

Some idiot forgot to change the camera setting!!!!

Managed to edit this one, but it's still a bit shit, 

never mind a perfect excuse to go back there again someday. 

Cheerful Happy Walks

With my beautiful family

Camera on full zoom I could swear someone was sitting there?

Maybe not! 

No Time For Decisions

My head is still whizzing, I'm honestly so sad. I've now told myself to deal with the fact that nothing will come of this pregnancy and to stop looking. It's easier to get on with life and except that this time there will be no babies at Blanik. Steve wants me to think positive that the two may make it to full term, but from what I was told and what I saw then I can't see that happening. Anyway all I need to do is keep an eye on Sammi over the next 10 days and I'll have some idea by the time we go for the next scan ... so there I go already contradicting myself.
Sammi is my priority, she's just so special to me. Her health and welfare is paramount. She to type is what I want to see being the future here. I love everything about her, well almost. Last night I wasn't best pleased with her choice of Fox perfume! She's absolutely fine again this morning, has eaten all her breakfast and has been giving the cats a hard time. But what happens now? If these puppies are now not viable and disappear this week will Sammi's body continue to think it's pregnant or will things just stop at a certain stage? Also looking back I have been commenting to Steve that Sammi hasn't left her "bits" alone since she was in season; and as I look further into absorption/miscarriage/abortion I come across this ... "Fastidious bitches may actually eat any placental or fetal tissues that they expel as part of their normal hygienic activities, especially if the abortion happens early in their pregnancy when those tissues are undifferentiated. This can make early abortions extremely difficult for owners to detect." So reading this along with the early discharge I'm now more convinced than ever that she has lost early embryos.
There seem to be many reasons for the absorptions happening, from hormone imbalance, canine herpes virus, bacterial infections etc etc  So I guess a lot of research and a trip to the vet is necessary before we consider mating Sammi again. I guess I should wait for the next scan and I may even take her to the vets towards the end of this "pregnancy."

Disappointment

Not great news to start the day. Sammi scan shows she is currently carrying 2 pups; but sadly it doesn't seem they are formed correctly and it's highly likely she has and is reabsorbing the litter. Any other puppies that could have been there are likely to have been reabsorbed already. She suggest I take her back for another scan in 10 days to see if there's anything there then. Talk about kick a woman when she's down eh
Sammi is fine, this is highly unlikely to affect her at all, if she is reabsorbing these two as well then the puppies will simply disappear and had we not taken her for the scan we would probably have never know they were there at all. I guess with the early symptoms I was already suspicious as they really don't generally show till after day 35 but I'm so disappointed I could cry. I guess we keep an eye on Sammi now and hope that if the pups are not viable that her body doesn't continue into a full blown false pregnancy. Knowing her I guess she'll just continue with her exuberant life ...
My head is really puddled at the moment ... it's not the right time to make decisions, but I can't help but think that Ziva will soon be in season, and Ziva and Nico had wonderful puppies!

Scanned day 33 from mating - but may have ovulated days sooner (Wed - Thurs) 

Welsh Northen Counties Critiques

Yeah all the way back to May, but at least we got them! 

German Shepherd Dog:
PG (3,1) 1 Stanleys Lokean of Blanik Substantial 20mth old male. Still a little way to go before full maturity but developing well. Lovely head and expression, with strong muzzle and well set ears. Good topline, falling from withers into nicely rounded croup - not over exaggerated - and on the move he showed good reach and drive, especially given his size and the limitations on space. BOB and group 3

Breakfast

There's tension at the feeding station as the aggressive wolf defends his hard earned breakfast from the fast approaching wild monkey cat. He stares at the approaching feline gripping his breakfast between his front paws he snarls and growls, he's ready for the attack, but this cat is fearless .... OMG a full blown fight of teeth and claws, which of these equally matched predators will win the prize? 

Alternatively, Loki doesn't mind sharing his breakfast with Jimmy!!!!

Misty Rainy Walks On The Mountain

So we walked in rain and thick mist and on the last walk we had a good soaking!

And now? It's warm with bright sunshine!  

Thought of the day ... should a partially deaf, partially sighted defiant old dog be off the lead in this weather? I'm waiting for her here because she doing her own thing and doesn't give a damn where we are.